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A British airline passenger in her 30s was fined 1,500 euros after a plane en route from the Canary Islands to Manchester had to be diverted to Cork airport after it became abusive to the crew and fellow travelers .
Gemma Campbell of Elston Road in Manchester was detained by Gardaí after the Jet2 LS910 flight from Fuertaventura in the Canary Islands was diverted to Cork airport yesterday after the 33-year-old compromised safety for being abusive on board.
Garda Gearoid Whelton told the Cork District Court that he arrested Ms Campbell after the plane landed at the airport. They took her to the Togher Garda station, where she was charged with two crimes.
Ms. Campbell was charged with being intoxicated to the point of raising fears that she could endanger herself or others on board the flight, in violation of Section 2A (1) and Section 2A (4) of the Air Navigation and Transport Law. 1973.
She was also charged with engaging in threatening, abusive, or insulting behavior with the intent to cause or be reckless to cause a breach of public order, contrary to Section 2A (3) and Section 2A (4) of the Transportation Act and Air Navigation 1973.
Garda Whelton presented evidence of arrest, charge and warning. He told Judge Colm Roberts that Ms. Campbell did not respond to any of the charges when they were made after a warning when he arrested her outside the Togher Garda station on the south side of Cork City shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday.
Defense attorney, Emmet Boyle BL, said his client wanted to plead guilty to both charges. She said that she was deeply embarrassed by her completely out of place behavior.
Garda Whelton said that Ms. Campbell was highly intoxicated on board the flight and became verbally abusive to the cabin crew.
He called a male member of the cabin crew a “fag” and subsequently sat in a separate area in an attempt to defuse the situation.
He was asked to correct his behavior, but he continued the verbally abusive behavior, to such an extent that the captain, concerned for the safety of everyone on board, felt he had no choice but to divert to Cork airport. The 100-passenger flight continued to Manchester without her.
Garda Whelton said that Ms Campbell had no prior convictions of any kind in either Ireland or the UK.
Mr. Boyle said that his client’s behavior was entirely due to alcohol consumption. Ms. Campbell, who runs a cleaning business, was deeply sorry for her actions that he emphasized.
He said his client had drunk alcohol at his hotel in Fuertaventura before traveling to the airport, where he had several more drinks. The cabin crew found an empty vodka bottle next to his seat on board the flight. The court heard that there has been a dispute between Ms. Campbell and her partner.
Judge Roberts said his behavior was completely unacceptable and that “homophobic name calling” was particularly objectionable.
Considering her apology for her “” atrocious behavior “and the fact that it seemed out of place for Campbell, he fined her 500 euros for the first offense and another 1,000 euros for the second offense.
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